TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - HydRx Farms Ltd. (o/a Scientus Pharma) ("Scientus" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company conducting research and product development for extracts and formulations related to medical cannabinoids and their derivatives, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") has issued U.S. Patent Number 10,143,706, entitled "Decarboxylated Cannabis Resins, Uses Thereof and Methods of Making Same."

"First mover advantage only matters if one can protect it. The granting of this patent is an important step to protect Scientus Pharma's competitive advantage through product innovation," said Har Grover, Chairman and CEO of Scientus. "Our method for extracting and activating cannabis API is unique in the industry and fundamental to our growth strategy. Our method provides intermediary resin that is more than 99% activated for THC and CBD, which maximizes the potency and bioavailability of the API. Our process also yields batches with consistent product profiles, enabling cannabinoid products to reach pharmaceutical-grade standards, rather than just medical-grade."

Scientus has several additional patent applications pending that, if granted, will provide protection for its formulation and processing technologies.

About Cannabis Decarboxylation

The cannabis plant is highly complex with more than 500 compounds. From a pharmaceutical perspective, cannabis is an amorphous API, which can make it challenging to chemically and biologically profile its active ingredients. There can also be large variations from one harvest to another. Although many growers have developed standardized cultivation methods to reduce variations between harvests, more precision is required to reduce or eliminate this variation and align with the high standards of the pharmaceutical and consumer products industries.

Generally, existing extraction methods do not adequately activate the API, nor do they compensate for large batch-to-batch variation inherent in natural plant materials. Scientus has solved these challenges on both fronts.

Scientus has developed a proprietary method for extraction and activation of API from cannabis, including the profiling phytochemicals and phytocannabinoids. This method provides the chemical and biological quality control appropriate for pharmaceutical grade product lines, resulting in an intermediary resin that can be used in a range of dosing forms.

About Scientus Pharma Inc.

Scientus Pharma Inc. is a vertically-integrated biopharmaceutical Licensed Dealer under the Narcotics Control Regulations of Canada. The Company conducts fundamental research on cannabinoids (genetic, biomolecular, etc.) with a focus on developing and commercializing pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid derivative products. Being one of a limited number of Licensed Dealers in Canada, Scientus Pharma has the ability to wholesale, buy, process and sell cannabinoid derivatives, from and to Licensed Producers, as well as international markets. Scientus is also a Licensed Producer (Cultivation) under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR).

Forward-Looking Statements

This new release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of the Company's management. In some cases, the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include the Company's expected U.S. patent grant. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. In addition, certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information or statements. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements or information speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement or information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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